Punjab Newsline | Yamunanagar
In a major case of cyber fraud, retired Civil Hospital doctor Dr. Narendra Chhabra, a resident of Ansal Town in Jagadhri, Yamunanagar, was allegedly cheated of ₹1.42 crore through a fake "digital arrest" scheme. The scammers reportedly kept the doctor under psychological pressure for nearly 18 days, convincing him that he was under an official investigation linked to anti-national activities.
According to the complaint, Dr. Chhabra received a phone call on June 3 from a person claiming to be an officer of a national security agency. The caller alleged that the doctor's documents had been recovered from a criminal involved in suspicious financial transactions and anti-national activities. The fraudsters then threatened legal action and arrest unless he cooperated with their so-called investigation.
The scammers allegedly instructed Dr. Chhabra and his wife not to leave their home, avoid speaking to anyone, and keep their mobile phone camera switched on throughout the day. The couple remained on extended video calls, believing they were under official surveillance.
Under continuous fear and mental pressure, Dr. Chhabra reportedly transferred a total of ₹1,42,09,022 to multiple bank accounts between June 3 and June 18. During this period, he stopped visiting the hospital, ignored calls from friends and colleagues, and remained largely isolated.
Police said the fraudsters exploited the fact that the couple lived alone in Jagadhri while their son resides in Canada. After realizing he had been duped, Dr. Chhabra lodged an online complaint with the cyber police station.
Cyber Police Station SHO Manoj Kumar said an investigation has been launched to trace the network behind the fraud and identify the bank accounts that received the transferred funds.
